Rating:
Genre:
Rap
Release Date: 06/29/1999
There were so many
Wu-Tang-related projects released during 1998 and 1999 that listeners -- and even fans -- could be forgiven for a bit of apathy regarding the second solo effort by
Wu-Tang's
Genius/GZA. The collective's trademark detuned strings had gone from
de rigueur to downright dated by mid-1999, and except for a well-received
RZA solo album earlier in the year, the lead in hip-hop's hype game appeared to have been taken over by
Timbaland's brand of future funk. It may not have proved the commercial smash of a proper
Wu-Tang LP, but
Genius/GZA's
Beneath the Surface is a worthy continuation and development of the
Wu-Tang Clan conglomeration. The best tracks here,
"Amplified Sample" and
"Crash Your Crew," are quintessentially
Wu-Tang, but with important tweaks to the trademark sound. The crisp, clean production -- by
Wu associates
Inspectah Deck,
Mathematics, and
Arabian Priest -- sounds much better than any project that had been recently issued (even
RZA's
Bobby Digital), and
GZA's raps prove he's the most innovative and talented vocalist
Wu-Tang had to offer. The only failure (at least in terms of sound) is
"Victim," a cloying track with a bit of scratched acoustic guitar and some
X Files-styled strings. Other than a few "skits" that disturb the flow,
Beneath the Surface is arguably the best thing to come out of the
Wu camp since their second proper album,
Forever.
~John Bush, All Music Guide
;)
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